Leisure Screen Time, Internet Gaming Disorder, and Mental Health Among Chinese Adolescents: Large-Scale Cross-Sectional Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adolescence is a critical period for mental health vulnerability alongside rising digital media exposure. Current evidence often fails to distinguish the distinct roles of leisure screen time (LST) quantity and addictive patterns like internet gaming disorder (IGD) on a comprehensive range of mental health outcomes.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the independent and joint associations of LST and IGD with multiple mental health conditions among Chinese adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a school-based, cross-sectional survey in Sichuan Province, China. Participants were recruited by random cluster sampling from 20 public schools. The sample comprised 13,240 adolescents (6659/13,240, 50.3% girls) with a mean age of 15.4 (SD 1.6) years. LST was self-

SUBMITTER: Deng Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12856396 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature